• Akaitcho First Nations assembly kicks off in Dettah

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-27 10:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Indigenous, Infrastructure, Energy, Governance, Resources]

  The Akaitcho Territory Government held its annual general assembly in Dettah, N.W.T., bringing together leadership from the Deninu Kųę́ First Nation, Łutsel K'e Dene First Nation, Salt River First Nation, Tthebatthie Denesųłiné Nation, and Yellowknives Dene First Nation to discuss shared priorities. The assembly addresses major regional infrastructure projects referred to the federal government's Major Projects Office, including the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor and the Taltson Hydro Expansion, which have faced wavering support and criticism over inadequate consultations from nations like Deninu Kųę́ and Łutsel K'e. Additionally, the assembly follows up on a 2025 initiative by a committee of elders to rename the Great Slave Lake to remove its derogatory historical connotations. Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson and Justice and Environment and Climate Change Minister Jay Macdonald are scheduled to attend.

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• 'Let's do it right': N.W.T. downstream leaders and advocates on Alta. oilsands tailings release

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-22 17:08:09.0
  Tags: [National, Alberta, Environment, Energy, Resources, Indigenous]

  Indigenous communities, advocacy groups like Alternatives North, and downstream leaders in the Northwest Territories are calling on federal and territorial governments to review Suncor's proposed oilsands tailings release into the Athabasca River system. Critics cite major scientific data gaps, potential health risks to communities dependent on municipal supplies from Lake Athabasca and Great Slave Lake, and the inadequacy of the 2015 N.W.T.-Alberta Bilateral Water Management Agreement. N.W.T. Environment and Climate Change Minister Jay Macdonald stated that the territory opposes the treat-and-release plan until scientific uncertainties are resolved, though primary regulatory authority rests with the federal government and the Alberta Energy Regulator.

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• Alberta Métis leaders oppose exclusion, not Pacific Link, as Cold Lake takes Ottawa to court

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-10-14 14:05:34.0
  Tags: [Alberta, National, Energy, Infrastructure, Indigenous, Resources]

  Six Métis nations in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, along with the Cold Lake First Nations (which filed a Federal Court application), are challenging federal and provincial authorities over their exclusion from consultations regarding the proposed Pacific Link pipeline. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced the pipeline as a project of national interest on October 1, 2026, to carry Alberta oil to the British Columbia coast with a groundbreaking targeted for September 1, 2027. Indigenous leaders criticize the lack of consultation, noting that equity ownership stakes and co-development terms were offered without proper engagement with Métis communities, violating Section 35 of the Constitution Act of 1982 and the Crown's duty to consult.

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• Indigenous groups given just 2 months to consult on Pacific Link pipeline designation

  Source: Global News Politics
  Date: 2026-10-01 22:48:12.0
  Tags: [National, Alberta, British Columbia, Energy, Resources, Indigenous]

  The federal government has designated the Alberta-to-West Coast oil pipeline, now called Pacific Link, as a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act to fast-track its approvals. Indigenous communities along the 130-plus-community route were given an extended two-month consultation window ending September 18, 2026, though groups like the Assembly of First Nations and Cold Lake First Nations criticized the timeline and lack of detailed engineering and routing information. Prime Minister Mark Carney aims to begin construction by September 2027 to transport an additional one million barrels per day from the oil sands, while securing environmental safeguards, financing, and equity partnerships with groups such as Fort McKay First Nation.

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• Nunavut pitches major infrastructure projects at Canada’s Investment Summit

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-16 17:29:31.0
  Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Energy, Transportation, Resources, Indigenous]

  Nunavut Premier John Main and Inuit leaders, including representatives from Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, attended Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Canada Investment Summit in Toronto to pitch four major territorial infrastructure projects. The proposed projects include the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link, the Iqaluit Nukkiksautiit Hydro Project, the Grays Bay Road and Port, and the Qikiqtarjuaq Deep-Sea Port. Notably, the Iqaluit Nukkiksautiit Hydro Project and the Grays Bay Road and Port have been designated as projects of national interest and placed on the federal government's Major Projects Office fast-track list. Territorial leaders emphasized the necessity of early Inuit involvement and regulatory compliance to address Nunavut's significant infrastructure gap in energy and transportation.

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• Support wavers from pair of Akaitcho First Nations on major N.W.T. infrastructure projects

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-11 19:13:19.0
  Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Energy, Indigenous, Mining, Resources]

  Two Akaitcho First Nations, Deninu Kųę́ First Nation and Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation, have expressed strong disapproval and suspended support for major Northwest Territories infrastructure initiatives, specifically the Taltson Hydro Expansion and the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. Deninu Kųę́ First Nation stated its suspension will persist until the Government of the Northwest Territories formally recognizes its severe legacy impacts from the original 1965 Taltson generation facility built near Fort Resolution. Both First Nations cited a lack of meaningful consultation and failure to secure free, prior, and informed consent under Section 35 of the Constitution Act. In response, Deputy Premier and Minister Responsible for Strategic Infrastructure Caroline Wawzonek maintained that the territorial government remains confident it can address outstanding concerns and continue discussions regarding land use, caribou habitats, and community benefits.

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